A great career beckons for Dane Paterson if the Cape Cobras star, who collected a hat-trick of awards including the Cobras player of the year-trophy, at the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) awards-function, can sustain his impressive 2014/2015-form next season, said Charl Langeveldt, the Cobras bowling coach, and Justin Ontong, the franchise-skipper.

Paterson was crowned as Cape Cobras player of the year, Sunfoil Series player of the year and players player of the year at the glittering season-ending function in the WPCC Sports Centre in Rondebosch on Saturday. The fast bowler won the spoils for his superb 42 wickets at an average of 22.54 in the Sunfoil Series competition. He also struck 13 times in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge, which included four for 33 in the final against the Chevrolet Knights at Newlands. A feature of the season was that Paterson operated for 303.1 overs in the four-day domestic showpiece. He was the spearhead of the attack and never shirked his responsibilities during a season in which there were (occasional) notable absentees through injury, including Rory Kleinveldt, Beuran Hendricks, Justin Kemp and Dane Piedt. “My dream is to play for South Africa in all three formats,” Paterson said. “I would like to add a yard of pace, but you can bowl really fast on a flat track and concede runs. Vernon Philander has shown that with the right skills you can be very effective,” he added. “I do move it off the seam both ways and swing it through the air, but my work in the off-season is to improve that so that I can do it at will. “I have spoken to Charl (Langeveldt) and Paul Adams about the right lengths on different surfaces. I have also received so much advice from Justin Kemp, Andrew Puttick and others about which lengths to use at other grounds,” he added. What would be the next step for Paterson? Ontong highlighted the need for the fast bowler to strike regularly when given an opportunity at South Africa A-level. “Dane was very impressive,” said Langeveldt about Paterson. “His last spell every day was as fast as his first. His stamina was notable. He had a good winter training-program, and his consistency and length improved markedly. “He is the type of bowler who attacks the off-stump and nips it both ways off the seam – almost like Vernon. “But if he wants to progress to the next level, he must obviously demonstrate that he could operate with success if selected for the SA A-team to India.“You cannot have one good season and then not continue. That is why Vernon is successful, as he sustained his domestic form over several seasons,” Langeveldt explained.